Method of making tire-bead reenforcing elements



' Oct 2,, 1928.- 1,686;155

A. C. HOPKINS METHOD OF MAKING TIRE BEAD REENFORCING ELEMENTS Filed May 25, 1927 I Jade afar;

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moi) or e 'rrnn-B Application as ma 25 elements and more especially such elements adapted foruse in beads of pneumatictire casings. p I

Among the features of my invention is the provision of a method of making such reenforc'ing elements, which will considerably reduce "the possible error.- Each element must be the right length for the particular casing .in which it. is'to bra-placed, and this length must be as exact as possible. By employing my method, the completed elements can a be very quickly, easily, and cheaply made, and will be very exactas to size.

1 Other features and advantages of my in vention will appear as I proceed with my specification. In the drawings illustrating my invention and accompanying this specification, Fig. 1

is a view partly in section and partly in perspective of a pneumatictire casing showing the re-enforcmg elements in place in the beads, Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showving the first stepin the method of making the element, Fig. 3 is a similar view of the' second step, F ig, 4 is a view in perspective showing the element aftercompletion of the third step in the method of making, and so Fig. 5 is asimila'r'view showing the completed element.

As shown in the drawings, 1 indicates a conventional pneumatic tire/casing provided.

with the usual head 2 which is -formed of a suitable rubber composition, the bead being of across-section corresponding to the tire in which it is desired to use the-same; 7

Embedded in the bead proper 2 is a reenforcement, or re-enforcing element here shown as comprising an annulusmade upof three convolutions or wraps of an endless tension member 3 which, for example, may consist of a wire. The severalwraps .or convolutions of wire tensionamember 3 are preferably bonded together by the bond-' ing element 4 spirally wound about the same in separated turns. It is to be understood, of course, that fewer or more turns or convolutions ofthe tension member 3 may be employed, and that other means instead of the bonding element 4*may be used to hold the turns together.

The completed element or annulus is shown in Fig. 5 remoyed from the tire. As stated before, it is highly desirable that the length ment by which the error is reduced to a .r nnnroncrne means.

, E92?- Serial R's. 194,142.

and size of the completed annulus or reenforcing element, as shown in-Fig. 5,, beas exact. as possible. I shall now describemy improved method for making 'such an ele- 'minimumf It will be seen that ii the wire 3 is formed into three turns, as shown in Fig. 4, before the ends are joined, that such 'three turns will all have to be made to the desired size. In the practice of my improved metho d, I join the ends of the wire 3 before thethree loopsor convolutions are formed. That is, I join the ends before the completed annulus as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is made. In the practice ofmy improved method, I first form the wire?) into a single loop or rin as shown in Fig. 2, and then join the en s. I then bend'it up intothe annulus, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 by first crossing it over to form .three rings or loops, as'shown in Fig. 3, and then bending these loops up into parallel relation to formthe annulus as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The final step is to apply the, bonding element 4 orflsome other means for holding convolutions of the annulus-together. It will be seen that by first making only a' single loop and then joining the ends ofthe wire that much greater accuracy I in. the length of the completed annulus is obtained. In forming this single loop, the length is measured as exactly as possible and then loops, anyerror in length that there might be is reduced to one-third, as it is distributed over the three loops of the completedan nulus.

In forming the single loop ofthe wire in the first step as above described, 1 preferably stretch it over two drums 5, 5', which are separated the requisite distanceso. that the entire loop will have the proper length. The drums 5, 5 are adjusted for the correct separation, the wire is placed over them, as shown in Fig. 2, with the requisite tension and the ends are joined in any suitable man,- q'ner. For example, the two ends as indicated by 3 and 3 may be held-together by means of the clamps 6 and 7 ass'hown, and the ends suitably'joined, for example, by welding'or electric welding,- as indicated at 8. The clamp 7 is adapted to move by means of'the adjusting screw 9 in order tofgive the de sired tension to the-wire or tension member 3. After the When this single loop is folded up into three single loop ha 's' been fiorm f 1 10.

aid the, 'endsfioined'it' is remd'ied from the in F up andbon ed drums 5, olded u into three" loops as 3 and esethreeloops folded V by m of thebonding element- 1 to form'the completed ,annulus.

;Preferably, the wire 3 is'given three twists as'indicated di agrammatically by the spiral 5 line; 3 on the same. If thus twisted before the ends are ti'loined, it is much easier to fold ree loops or convolutions,-- as it up into such twists will cause it toiorminto three such convolutions orcoils naturally.

While I have shown and described but a single'embodiment of my invention,- it is V to beunder stood that it is capableof many -modifications. 7 Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made 'i without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in whichit is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my, invention as {broadly 'as possible in view of the prior art. What I claim as new, 'and des re to sei cure. by Letters Patent, is:

' 2; The methodof making 1. The method of making a tire-bead reenforcing element having a plurality of con- -volutions ofa tension member, consisting'of first forming such tension member in. a

sin le loop (pf-requisite length, {oining the and then forming said sing e loop into a plurality of convolutions.

enforcing element'having a plurality of con- 7 volutions of atension member, consisting of first" forming le loop of requisite lengthq'oining the ig, tlfen'forming said single oop into a such tension member m a plurality of'wnvolutions,and}then bonding enforcing element having a plurality oi conthe'convolutions to ther.

'3. The method 0 making a. tire-bead re- 7 volutions of a tension member, consisting of first forming such. tension member. in a single loop of requisite 'length', i'oining the endgthen f0 said sin 1e '00 into a plurality of oon'volutions, an then gronding the convolutions together by a tire bead re'- A. D. 1927. formmg said single loop into a l- 4 4 iplurality of convolution s, and then" bondas mg the convolutions together by spirally 1 winding a bonding element about the same 4 in se ilarated turns.

5. he method of making a tire-bead reenforcing' element having a plurality of con- 00 v q a volutions of a-tension member, conslstmg of first forming such tension member in a single loop of re' uisite len h, twisting the same a number 0 times su stantially'equal.

.to the number of convolutions tobe formed 86 in the completed element, joining the ends j together, and then forming the single loop 1 'into a-plurality of convolutions.

' 6. 'The method of making a -tirebead reenforcing element having a plurality of con- 3 volutions of a tension member,- consisting of first forming such tension member in a single loop of requisite len h, twisting the same 'a number of times su stantially equal to the number of convolutions to be formed L in the completed element, joining the ends together, then forming the sin le loop into a plurality of convolutions, an 'then bonding the convolutions to ether.

volutions of a tension member, consisting of first forming such tension member I in a single loop, f-requisite len h, twisting the The method of ma ing a tire-bead reso enforcing element having a plurality of con-' .same a number of times su stantially equal 35 to themumb'er of convolutions to be formed 1 in'the completed element, joining the ends together then forming the sin le loop. into )a plurality of convolutions, an -then bond:

ing the convolutions togetherby spirally o 'wintling a bonding element about the same.

' 8. The method of making a tire-bead re-. enforcing element having a plurality of con- I volutions of a tension member, consisting of first forming such tension member in a single loop of re uisite length, twisting the same a number 0 times su stantially equal to the number of convolutions to'be formed in the completed element,'joiningtheends together, then forming the single loopinto i a plurality of convolutions, and then bonding the oonvolutions together by -spirally winding abonding element about the same in iseparated turns. In' testimon myI'handI-an I o. nor gnisi hereofgl have hereunto 106" v seal this 19th day of. May,1; 1 v 

